Oliver Rowland believes drivers like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton won’t dominate Formula E if they switch from F1.
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have won all but one drivers’ title in Formula 1 since 2013, and both have been outstanding in terms of race wins, podiums and pole positions in recent seasons. dominate the series.
In 2022, Max Verstappen won his second F1 world championship with 15 wins and 454 points, setting two new F1 records. Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, became the first driver to reach 100 wins and is a seven-time F1 World Champion.
Meanwhile, only Jean-Eric Vergne has won back-to-back Formula E titles once, while Mahindra driver Oliver Rowland praised the strength of the field.
“I don’t think any F1 driver will win easily in Formula E,” Rowland told Total-Motorsport.com.
“I think Max[Verstappen]stands out in F1 at the moment in terms of pace, talent and innate ability.”
“It’s easy to say when he’s winning. I don’t think so.”
“I’ve fought them in the junior category and I know their level. I think the average in Formula E is higher than in Formula 1. We always welcome them.”
Sometimes it takes a little bit of luck to get into F1. If the result had been a little different, Oliver Rowland might have been preparing for his next season in Formula 1 rather than running in Mahindra Racing at the Mexico City E-Prix.
“Realistically I was second in Formula 2. I was second in the championship and I was disqualified in the last race because of a 0.1mm plank. I was disqualified three times during the season. I was at a level where I could fight Charles[Leclerc]and I’m really the only person who can challenge him,” recalled Oliver Rowland.
Charles Leclerc then went on to F1, and a year later George Russell, Lando Norris and Alexander Albon went from F2 to F1 as well. But Oliver Rowland never got his chance in F1.
“They are good drivers, but I definitely had a good fight with them. Albon was there the year I was there. I think it was the right place and the right time. Some of them need a little luck. But I don’t want to say that, I’m happy with the situation at the moment.”
Oliver Rowland made a name for himself in Formula E. He has one win in Berlin in 2020. In a coronavirus-affected year, Rowland finished fifth in the championship. However, after that, he was unable to advance beyond 14th place.
Oliver Rowland thinks the numbers don’t do him justice when it comes to talent.
“Throughout my career, I’ve had considerable success in the WEC and F2, going so far as to beat Leclerc, who was in Prema when he was in F2,” said Rowland.
“Then I went to Nissan as a rookie and had a very good season in my first season with three poles. I could have won the race but that was more of a rookie mistake than anything else. Then at Nissan. After two more seasons, we had to make some pretty big compromises, and after a few years we were falling further and further behind.”
“Coming to Mahindra was a new challenge. We knew it would always be difficult last year. The plan was to do a fresh start and project for Gen3. I think there is more potential. I’m sure it’s time to get the package to win races and fight for the championship.”
